App Development Strategy for An M-commerce Startup

Almost all businesses are aware of the consumers’ dependency on mobility and apps. But many of them, particularly online retailers, are under pressure that how they should react to an ever-increasing momentum of mobile technology. But sooner or later, they have to accept mobility as the core channel of selling online. Surveys show that. A 2015’s PayPal research indicates that growth of global m-commerce market should outpace e-commerce by three to one, whereas US m-commerce should grow from $54.6 million in 2014 to $96.3 million by the end of 2016.

A Business Insider’s forecast reveals that m-commerce will reach $284 billion or 45% of the total US e-commerce market, by 2020. Amazon had already doubled its sales via mobile in 2013. Walmart estimated that 40% of total online visitors to their stores were from mobile devices in the same year. So there are a lot of data available indicating similar findings. In fact, mobile is poised to become the mainstream channel for retailers as suggested by a new LexisNexis study.

Indeed m-commerce app development is growing; with rapidly exceeding e-commerce far behind in the race but, there is a dark side, too. It’s that not all m-commerce apps launched will succeed or deliver desired results. Many will be rolled back even before their first anniversary. It happens when apps are created without a strong strategy.

A successful mobile app development strategy for an m-commerce startup is one that reacts to customer’s needs and behavior. These two points are critical to succeed in m-commerce app development. Because smartphones are the quickest computing devices, they turn consumers impatient who demand information almost instantly at their fingertips.

Yet, it is not easy to build an experience that can match the expectations of consumers. When this experience lacks in an m-commerce app, it fails to deliver desired results as mentioned above. But e-commerce startups can succeed in their venture if they get their app developed with keeping following tips in mind.

#1 INDIVIDUALIZATION

People hardly share their smartphones with anyone because they are the ultimate personal gadget and so do m-retailers need to take them. When consumers download an app, it becomes “their”. Here the app is naturally supposed to create a trouble-free, convenient and one-to-one shortcut that connects consumers to their chosen brand in a blink of an eye. Consumers bookmark products or in the m-commerce app term, save them to wish-lists which they can later access from anywhere – into the bed or while traveling in subway – and even when their devices lose network connectivity. An app giving this level of personalization will have certain chances of receiving good response from users.

#2 SERVICEABILITY

Users love those apps which according to them, is easy in use. Same applies to eCommerce apps. Every app that has been incredibly successful is simple with easily understandable menu and mobile-optimized layout. Various elements such as buttons, fields, and selectors play a role in increasing the “safety matches” particularly when operating them on small-screen smartphones. With this attribute, the barrier of depending on the specific make of device is removed and an app becomes ready for almost all smartphone users – from higher to lower social-economic strata.

#3 REDUCED DATA TRAFFIC

An m-commerce app should be focused on minimizing the data traffic volume because it will directly reflect a notable reduction in the loading time. All app users want their apps loading in a flash whereas data connectivity may vary network to network or location to location. But, m-commerce apps, in general, require faster loading. Many apps are seen to fail because of this disorder. The best way to avoid this situation is to optimize the app to consume as low data as possible, along with supporting slow networks.

#4 SECURITY

One of the most important aspects to be considered in an m-commerce app development is the security of the data being transacted. Consequently, the app also needs to have secure data encryption and a secure payment method which win the trust of users who then feel the app’s environment safe to make payments for their purchase.

#5 SIMPLE ORDERING AND REGISTRATION PROCESS

It is necessary for shopping apps to provide a simple ordering and registration process so that customers do not lose their interest in exploring products. A simple and quick registration process can be achieved with social platform log-ins which allow users to register and login to an app with their social platform credentials on which most of the devices already remain logged-in. Google and Facebook are the names to a few of them. There are many ready-made social registration and login plug-ins available which are designed particularly for eCommerce apps.

#6 MULTIPLE PLATFORM INTEGRATION

Last but not least, an e-commerce app needs to provide multiple platform integration and this attribute can be added only when you keep the interface open so that future connections and the app development for other target devices can be allowed. An app with this attribute can rapidly adapt to newer demands or new market segments.

The success of an eCommerce app entirely depends on its experience. If the app compels users to keep using it for a long time, it will have chances to succeed. Here are the best ways an app can be added with compelling user experiences:

#7 Make it simple

People love going simply even for the complex requirements and this is you have to look on while getting your app built. Focus in making navigation as simple as possible. This approach is also put on search, filters and checkout functions.

#8 Consider native approach

Go for a native app development so that the end-product will come out as responsive as well as delivers results with desired speeds.

#9 Increase security layers

While using a ready-made platform, always prefer the trusted ones and also, set a reminder in the checkout process to inform customers about each of the payment stages they are on or passing through.

#10 Improve interactions consumers

Think of the better use of mobile advertising, geo-location based services, coupons, value added features, and mobile marketing to improve interaction with consumers.

#11 Increase social interaction

Social platforms are visited by almost all smartphone users. They spend a considerable amount of time on platforms like Facebook, G+, and Twitter but, these platforms can also be used to propagate inform like a viral. You can create some interesting social content such as blog, sliders, graphics, and video which address your products and the target customers in a story telling way.

#12 Use analytics and make changes

App analytics tools help a business track consumer behaviors like which part of the app or product page receives the highest number of visits and, from which page consumers are mostly bounced back. The data generated out of analytics also serves as the base for the different strategies of future marketing and promotions.

#13 Partner with an experienced eCommerce app development company

Professional app developers possess past experience of success to build for eCommerce. By associating with them, the same will be passed on to your project, too. Use their experience and save time along with getting desired work quality and highest ROI.

Sofia is a content writer in Rapidsoft Technologies, a prominent mobile app development services company specialized in iOS, Android, Xamarin app development. She does blogging as hobby and love to write on mobile technologies, Entrepreneurship, Startups, and latest app trends.